Our Family Tree

As stated on Interrogatory to his Revolutionary pension application, "That he was born on the 24th day of Oct 1764 in the County of Loudoun in State of Virginia, that while a boy he was brought by his parents to the County of Bedford in the same state where he has ever since resided."

late in year, served three mos. as Pvt. in Capt. Newele's Company of Col. Merriweather's Regiment of Virginia Militia for 9 months, marched 150 miles to Petersburg, thence to Cabin Point, thence to Portsmouth, thence to North Carolina, back to Portsmouth and around the country watching for Gen. Benedict Arnold, then back to North Carolina, and back across the Dismal Swamp to Prince George Courthouse. In 2nd enlistment, served six months beginning fall of 1781, was drafted and sent to Richmond and Williamsburg.

began receiving Revolutionary pension of $30 per annum

mother of all his children whose births were 1784-1803

Given a gift deed by his parents "for the love, good will, and affection we do bear their well beloved son," for 80 acres on S. side of Blackwater Rd. - Deed Book 7, pages 294-295.¶ Bought two 4-acre tracts on Crab Orchard Creek, the first from his brother-in-law Edmund Franklin, the second from his father-in-law Conrad Newman - Deed Book 9, pages 19-20.¶ Bought 95 acres on Crab Orchard Creek from Richard Larrowe and wife. Apparently Samuel never sold any of his Bedford County land but left it to his children, for he had no grantor deeds - Deed Book 10, page 288.¶ Bought 17 acres from Conrad Newman and wife Anna, adjoining Woodford's property - Deed Book 10, page 288.¶

Bought 150 acres on Wolf Glade Creek from Nicholas and Rachel Stillwell. In estate of his father-in-law Conrad Newman, in Grayson County Minute Books Samuel and wife were listed among heirs in August and September 1806, February and October 1807 - Book 2, page 205¶ "of Co. of Bedford" sold part of his Grayson County land, the first was 175 acres on Wolf Glade Creek to brother-in-law Samuel Williams for $100, the second to Harry Winset for $15, 70 acres on waters of Wolf Glade Creek waters of Crooked Creek. Recorded 29 Jul 1828, witnessed by Anthony Newman, David Williams, Payton Wilks, and Benjamin Wilks - Book 5, pp. 326, 327¶·"of the State of VA" deeded 400 acres "Benjamin Wilkes and Henry Wilks his sons" for the sum of $1, on the waters of Wolf Glade Creek, a branch of Crooked Creek in Grayson County - Recorded 13 Dec 1832. This amounted to a gift deed; Samuel both purchased and inherited with his wife land in Grayson County. - Book 6, pages 357, 358.

(p 125_ - " ...by virtue of Land Office. Exchange treasury warrant number seventeen hundred and fifty six issued the thirteenth day of July one thousand and eight hundred and five, there is granted by the said Commonwealth, unto Samuel Wilks, A Certain tract or parcel of land, containing (p 126) Four Hundred acres by survey bearing date the thirteenth day of October one thousand eight hundred and five lying and being in the county of Grayson on the waters of Wolf-glade creek, a branch of Crooked creek and bounded, as followeth, to wit: .....To Have and to Hold the said tract or parcel of land with its appurtenances, to the said Samuel Wilks (and) his heirs forever. In Witness where of the said John Tyler esquire, governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia hath hereunto set his hand and caused the lesser seal of the said Commonwealth to be affixed at Richmond, on the twelfth day (p127) of June, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and nine, and of the Commonwealth the thirty third. Jno Tyler"

ceremony performed by William Leftwich, minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, with Joseph Crouch as surety on bond.

"Oct. 6, 1826; Samuel Wilks & Margaret Witt; Joseph Crouch, Surety; Married by William Leftwich, Oct. 11, 1826."[License issued 6 OCT 1826; married 11 OCT 1826]

Bought land from Martin and Patsy Wedle, though curiously the deed was certified in Montgomery County to be recorded in Patrick.¶ Deed from Martin Wedle and Patsy his wife to Samuel Wilks, certified and certified to court in Montgomery County to be recorded.¶

Pension Application of Samuel and Margaret Witt Wilks: R11553¶ Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris¶ State of Virginia}¶ County of Bedford} S.S.¶ On the 28th day of March 1833 personally appeared in open Court before the Justices of the County court of Bedford now sitting Samuel Wilkes a resident of Virginia in the County of Bedford aged Sixty nine years, who being first duly sworn according to Law, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832.¶ That he enlisted in the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein after stated Viz.– That in the latter part of the year 1780 or in January 1781 he was drafted for a three months Tour in the Militia from the County of Bedford, he marched under Captain John Trigg, Lieutenant William Hudnall, and Ensign Simon Miller to Petersburg a distance of 150 miles, and from thence to Cabin point [in Surry County] and from there to Portsmouth, and from thence to Gregory’s Camp in North Carolina where they were stationed a short time and marched back again to Portsmouth and was then marching about the County watching Gen’l [Benedict] Arnold who was said to be in Long Bridge Fort [probably the fort at Great Bridge on Elizabeth River] and then marched back again to North Carolina and back again across the dismal swamp to Prince George Courthouse where he was discharged sometime in April and served at least three months. That he has no documentary evidence of this Tour but can prove it by Isaac Cundiff and Cap William Arthur who served said Tour with him and to whose affidavit he refers. his field officers were Gen’l Mulenburg [sic: Peter Muhlenberg], Colo. Merriweather [sic: Meriwether] and Major Decloman. That in the fall of the year 1781 he was again drafted for six months from the County of Bedford and rendezvoused at Prince Edward Courthouse and marched from thence to Richmond and served under the command of Capt Newell for some time, which captain Newell became a supernumerary. they were then placed under the command of captain John Slaughter and Lieutenant Nathaniel Rice[?]. That he was stationed at Richmond and remained there during the whole time except about six weeks when he volunteered to aid in carrying [illegible word] loaded with coal to Williamsburg. On his return to Richmond the term of service having expired previously, he found his whole company already discharged. he has no documentary evidence of the service of this Tour. he received a discharge from Cap. Slaughter some time in March 1782 but has lost or mislaid it but can prove the service of this Tour by John Mitchell and George Swain both citizens of the County of Bedford who served this Tour with him and to whose affidavit he refers. He hereby relinquishes every claim to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state.¶ Samuel Wilks¶ He had no field officers this Tour, no Troops except his company being in the service with him – don’t recollect any regular officers either Tour except Gen’l. Mulenburg, Colo Merriweather & Maj. Decloman being regulars– No regular Troops. This Militia company commanded by Capt Otey; [one or two words illegible] Company & Regt. He served at least six months this Tour.¶ The following is the answers to the several interrogatories propounded by the Court to Samuel Wilks before whom the foregoing declaration was sworn and subscribed.¶ Answer to Question 1st– That he was born on the 24th day of October 1764 in the County of Louden [sic: Loudoun] in the State of Virginia that while a boy he was brought by his parents to the County of Bedford in the same State where he has ever since resided – ¶ 2nd– That he has no record of his age¶ 3rd– 4th– & 5th– answered as in the declaration stated & in question 1st¶ 6th– answered in declaration.¶ 7th– I refer to William Leftwich a minister of the gospel and John Hudnall Sen. to both of whom I am well acquainted.¶ Samuel Wilks¶ NOTE: On 21 Jan 1854 Margaret Wilks, about 65, applied for a pension stating that as Margaret Witt she was married to Samuel Wilks by William Leftwich in Bedford County in Oct 1826, and that Wilks died there on or about 1 July 1837.

He was granted a Revolutionary War Pension from Virginia of $30, annual allowance. $90 received. Pension started May 11, 1833, age 70.

1: 400 acres on the waters of Wolf Glade Creek a branch of Crooked Creek.¶ 2: Wilks, Samuel. 70 acres on the waters of Wolf G1ade Creek a branch of Crooked Creek which is a branch of New River.

his property was appraised by administrators Henry Wilks and Thomas Rider, and the last of sale buyer s included Samuel Norman Wilks (a grandson, Ben's son Samuel Norman)